On Amarath the races of the world can be divided into two groups, the old races and the new races. The old races have been around since the beginning of the world, whereas the new races are recent creations, and have only grown to prominence due to the effects of the Maelstrom.

The Old Races

Humans: The humans of Amarath have been around for many millennia, though not as long as some of the other old races. Humans have spread to every corner of Amarath, and it is not unusual to seem them just about anywhere you may care to go, they have even been seen in the most isolated of eladrin communities.

Elves: The elves of Amarath are one of the youngest of the old races, their migration from the Fey wild to the Amarath proper only occurring in the last 1000 years. Elves are common in any location that has not been overrun by civilization; most of their tree-top towns are deep in the forests, closest to those places with connections to the Fey wild.

Eladrin: The eladrin of Amarath have been around the longest of all the old races, with the exception of the dwarves. The eladrin courts came from the Fey wild many thousands of years ago to bring civilization to the world. The eladrin are reputed to have taught the basics of civilization to many of the old races, including humans. Eladrin can be found in as many places as humans can, but they also have isolated communities where the oldest eladrin teach long-held secrets to their young.

Dwarves: The oldest of all the races of Amarath lived deep under the earth for many millennia until they were forced out from their homes by their evil cousins, the deep dwarves. The dwarves of Amarath settle in hills and mountains, or underneath the cities of the other races.

Half-Elves: This race is reputed to have come about through blending between eladrin and humans many thousands of years ago, but they are recognized as an individual race because they breed true. Half-Elves have their own communities, but they regularly live alongside the other races, especially eladrin and humans.

Halflings: The halflings of Amarath have lived alongside humans for as long as anyone can remember, the eladrin at first believed them to be human children until they were able to inspect them closer. Halflings live close to the settlements of others, but always hold to their own cultures even in the middle of the most metropolitan cities.

Gnomes: The gnomes of Amarath lived close to the surface of the world for many years, existing as slaves to the evil drow elves. In more recent years, due to the catastrophe that beset the drow, they are free thinking citizens. Although they are prone to flights of fancy on occasion, a madness inflicted by a millennia of slavery some say, they are welcomed in most societies.

Half-Orcs: For many years these cross-breeds were not recognized as a true race, it was only when the first all half-orc cities were founded that the old races recognized them. In the past century half-orcs have grown to become accepted in all but the most backwater of towns and villages.

Shifters: The descendants of feral human tribes the shifters still bear many of the brutish traits of their ancestors. They are seldom seen in civilized areas, but are recognized (if not always welcomed) in rural areas.

Drow: For many thousands of years the drow lived close to the surface of Amarath raiding surface towns and villages, keeping the gnomes as slaves. However 300 years ago a terrible plague beset the drow and many of their number died, the few remaining tend to be frowned upon in polite society, but tolerated. However they drow are never welcome in gnomish villages and rumors of mob justice upon the drow are often whispered.

The New Races

Dragonborn: The Dragonborn rapidly evolved from the many drakes and lizards of Amarath and due to their sense of honor and respect for the other races, they are welcomed in almost every corner of the world.

Teiflings: Humanoids who are caught in maelstorms of fire and chaos are reputed to have taken on these demonic aspects, and are viewed with caution wherever they venture.

Deva: These angelic looking beings are born in maelstorms of pure light. Humanoids who are caught in one of these storms often report seeing these beings appearing out of nowhere. The deva are welcomed in most places around the world, however certain backwater villages view them with caution.

Genasi: The maelstroms of Fire, Earth, Air and Water are reputed to have transformed humanoids caught in them into these new beings who can harness the very elements themselves. The genasi are welcomed in most of the rural areas of Amarath, where storm borne creatures are more common, however they are viewed with distain in civilized areas.

Goliath: The mountain men of the world seem to have an attraction to the maelstorms of Earth and Growth, often these storms ravage the high mountain passes and as such the tribes there seem to be composed more of goliaths than humans these days. Goliaths are welcomed in most places so long as they come in peace; certain rural towns have had much conflict with the mountain men and the goliath though, so occasionally they are viewed with distain.

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